The
nostrils of the Armadillo Lizard are formed into
little tubes. The tubes help the Armadillo Lizards
smell for food or predators. A ground dwelling
lizard, it is active in the daytime and feeds on a
wide variety of insects, as well as on spiders and
other invertebrates. The head of the Armadillo
Lizard is narrow in shape. It is fairly slow moving
animal, but when the Armadillo Lizard thinks or
knows it's in danger, it runs as fast as it can go
for cover.

The body length is 15-17 inches, the tail is 14-16 inches
long, and it weighs 8-17 lbs. Its back legs are a little
shorter than the front. The head, body, and club-like tail
are all flattened, enabling it to wriggle easily into rock
crevices for shelter. It may also adopt a curious defensive
posture when threatened by rolling itself up like an
Armadillo, with its tail tightly held in its jaws,
presenting a spiny ring to the predator and protecting the
softer, vulnerable belly area. That's why its called the
Armadillo Lizard. The armored Armadillo Lizard has
protection all around its body so that predators can't harm
any of its under parts. Also squeeze into small places for
escape. Another protection is their spiny scales that go all
the way around its body. Their tails and spines also can be
used to defend themselves as well. The Armadillo Lizard can
be found in the deserts of the southern tip of
Africa.

The Armadillo Lizard
has its babies in the late summer. Only 1 or 2 babies are
born during that time. The Armadillo Lizards stay in family
groups, and they will all live in the same rock crevice.
When the lizards give birth, the babies are live-born, but
do have a thin membranous shell that they need to break
through.

The Armadillo Lizard
is a prey animal. It is preyed upon by bigger and stronger
predators, such as humans, etc. The Armadillo Lizard's armor
is most usefull against many birds, mammals, and other
reptiles.

The Armadillo Lizard
is not an endangered species although it does have a lot of
enemies to protect itself from. The Cape Provincial
Ordinance helps the Armadillo Lizards when their injured or
sick. That way the Armadillo lizards can be less
endangered.